Snap-off tab nozzle

ABSTRACT

A snap-off tab nozzle consisting of a hollow body member having an inlet adapted for connection to a source of fluid, and an outlet for discharging the fluid. The outlet is formed by at least one separable tab to enable its axial length to be varied to regulate the discharge angle of the fluid.

United States Patent 9/1960 Reggio ...222/54l X Livingston [4 1 July 11, 1972 [54] SNAP-OFF TAB NOZZLE 3,275,248 9/1966 O'Brien et al..239/490 X 3,289,686 12/1966 Tyer, Jr 72 lnventor. William L. Llvln tonShar n, Mass. gs 0 2,193,365 3/1940 Cantoni ..222/54i X [73] Assignee:Factory Mutual Research Corporation,

Norwood, Mass Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. [22] Filed: Dec. 30,1970 Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. 1 pp No: 102,651Attorney-Lane, Artken, Dunner & Zrems [57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl ..2 4 l 41 39/ 69/37 47 A snap-off tab nozzle consisting of a hollow body member[51] Int. Cl ..B05b 1/34 having an inlet adapted for connection to asource of fluid 58] Field f Search 239/309, 589, 596 600, 602, and anoutlet for discharging the fluid. The outlet is formed by 239/490;222/541; 169/37, 38, 39, 42 at least one separable tab to enable itsaxial length to be varied to regulate the discharge angle of the fluid.

[56] References Cited 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTSP'ATENTEUJUL 1 1 m2 INVENTOR WILLIAM L.L|VINGSTON SNAP-OFF TAB NOZZLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a discharge noule,and more particularly, to a nozzle for discharging fluid in apredetermined pattern which can be varied.

Discharge nozzles for fluid have enjoyed wide use in various industrialapplications. A typical nozzle of this'type is provided with an internalchamber for receiving the fluid, and with a reduced diameter axialdischarge orifice at one end of the chamber for discharging the fluid.Vane means are often disposed in the chamber to impart a swirling motionto the fluid so that it is discharged from the orifice in a conicalspray pattern with a uniform distribution of the fluid particlesthroughout the transverse cross-sectional area of the spray.

In this, and other similar types of nozzles, the dimensions of theorifice and internal chamber as well as the shape, dimen sions, andlocations of the vanes constitute parameters that contribute to thedesired result. Due to the fact that these parameters must often varywith each particular application, it

becomes necessary for a user or seller of these type nozzles to stock avery large amount of the nozzles.

A typical application of this problem is in the use of fixed fireextinguishing systems utilizing a large number of overhead noules fordischarging extinguishant to the fire, since the layout or structure tobe protected by the system varies in size from location to location.Since the optimum size of the discharge spray pattern for each noule mayvary according to the size of the location, a supplier of these nozzleswould have to stock an almost unlimited supply of nozzles to cover eachparticular location. This problem is compounded when different types ofspray patterns are required for different locations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide a nozzle of the above type which can be adapted tovary the pattern of the discharge spray from the nozzle.

Toward the fulfillment of these objects, the nozzle of the presentinvention comprises a body member having an inlet portion and an outletportion for receiving and discharging the fluid, respectively. Theoutlet portion is formed by at least one separable tab to enable theaxial length of the outlet portion to be varied to regulate thedischarge angle of the fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to theaccompanying drawings for a better understanding of the nature andobjects of the present invention. The drawings illustrate the best modepresently contemplated for carrying out the objects of the invention andare not to be construed as restrictions or limitations on its scope. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the nozzle of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial bottom plane view of the nozzle of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the various spray patterns that can beobtained by the nozzle of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The nozzle of the presentinvention will be described by way of example in connection with a fixedfire extinguishing system, wherein the nozzle is adapted for receivingand discharging a fire extinguishant in response to information receivedfrom a fire occurring in a particular structure in which the nozzle ismounted. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the nozzle head is shown in generalby the reference numeral 10 and comprises a cylindrical body 12 havingan upper end portion 14 which is internally threaded for connection to asource of extinguishant, and a lower end portion 16 which defines anoutlet orifice of a reduced cross-section. A pair of spiral vanes 18aand 18b are fixed within the body 12 for imparting a swirling motion towater flowing downwardly therethrough in a conventional manner. Thevanes 18a and 18b support a hollow central hub 20 which, in turn,slidably supports a rod 22 having a piston head 24 fixed on its lowerend. A pair of sealing rings 26 and 28 are positioned about theperiphery of the head 22 and sealingly engage in the inner wall of thebody 12 near the lower end portion 16.

The rod 22 is latched in the position shown in FIG. 1 by a rod 32 whichextends slidably through an externally threaded boss 34 projecting fromthe side of the body 12. One end of the rod 32 extends through the vane18a and the wall of the central hub 20 into a slot 36 in the rod 22 tolatch it in the position shown in FIG. 1.

A sleeve 38 is threaded on the end of the boss 34. The outer end of thesleeve is closed off by an externally threaded stub shaft 40 having aring or yoke 42 thereon. The rod 32 slidably extends through the stubshaft 40, and the other end of the rod engages a conventional thermalfuse element 44 positioned within the ring 42. The fuse element preventsmovement of the rod 32 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, until the heatof a fire fuses the element 44 so that it collapses. Since the thermalfuse element 44 is the standard type commonly used in conventionalsprinkler heads now on the market, it will not be described in greaterdetail.

The rod 32 has a piston head 46 mounted thereon which slidably engagesthe internal wall of the sleeve 38. A spring 48 is positioned betweenthe boss 34 and the piston head 46 to bias the piston head and the rod32 to the right with a predetermined biasing force.

With this arrangement, the piston head 46 and the rod 32 will be drivento the right under the action of the spring 48 upon the fuse element 44collapsing in response to the head of the fire. This unlatches the rod22 and allows it, along with the piston head 24, to be expelled from thelower end portion 16 of the body 12, and permit the water to spray outthrough the latter end portion.

According to a feature of the present invention, the lower end portion16 of the body 12 is formed by a plurality of annular tabs 60, 62, and64. The tab 60 extends from the body member 12 and is easily separabletherefrom along a score line 66, while the tab 62 extends from the tab60 and is separable therefrom along a score line 68, and the tab 64extends from the tab 62 and is separable therefrom along a score line70.

As shownin connection with tab 64 in FIG. 2, each tab 60, 62, and 64 hasfour tapered notches 72 formed therein, the four notches of each tabbeing circumferentially spaced at intervals around the tab. Four flanges74 are provided around the periphery of the body portion 12 adjacent thetab 60, and

' extend slightly below the score line 66.

The provision of the notches 72 on the tabs 60, 62, and 64, as well asthe flanges 74 on the body 12, is to enable fluid to be discharged fromthe body 12 in the square pattern shown in FIG. 3.

In particular, the reference letter A" depicts the square patternachieved by fluid discharging from the nozzle 10 in the form depicted inFIG. 1, that is, with all the tabs 60, 62, and 64 left on the lower endportion 16 of the body 12. The corners of the square corresponds to thefour notches 72 provided in the tab 64, since at these points thedischarge of spray is slightly greater due to the reduced frictionalresistance encountered by the fluid as it discharges.

In the event a spray pattern covering a slightly larger area, such asarea B, is desired, the tab 64 may simply be removed from the tab 62 byseparating the tabs along the score line 70. This can be achieved bysimply striking a blow in a horizontal direction as viewed in FIG. 1against the tab 64 or, alternately, providing a snap ring or the likewhich can be pulled to break off the tab 64 along the score line, in aconventional manner. The spray pattern C is achieved by removing the tab62 from the tab 60 in a similar manner. Of course, the notches 72 formedin both of the tabs 62 and 60 cause the discharge to be slightly greaterat these points and results in the square patterns shown.

ln the-event the largest spray pattern D" is desired, the tab 60 isremoved from the body 12 along the score line 66 in the manner describedabove and the fluid swirling outwardly from the end of the body will bedirected to the four corners of the square pattern D by the flanges 74.

It is emphasized that the nozzle described above is not limited to fireextinguishing systems, but can be adapted to any environment requiring asimilar type discharge of fluid. Also, each tab does not necessarilyhave to have the four notches formed therein, but rather, can have adifferent configuration depending on the particular spray patterndesired.

Of course, other variations of the specific construction and arrangementof the snap-off tab nozzle disclosed above can be made by those skilledin the art without departing from the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A nozzle comprising a hollow body member having inlet means adaptedto receive a source of fluid and outlet means for discharging said fluidin a predetermined discharge pattern, said outlet means including atubular portion for providing a predetermined resistance to fluid flowthrough said outlet means, said tubular portion being formed by at leastone separable tab to enable the axial length of said tubular portion tobe reduced in a relatively easy and precise manner, said reduction insaid axial length causing a corresponding reduction in said resistanceand therefore in the size of said discharge pattern, the inner wall ofsaid tubular portion being of a constant diameter through the entirelength thereof so that said discharge pattern maintains a constant shapedespite said reduction in size.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein a plurality of tubular tabs areprovided, said tabs being separated by means of a circumferential scoreline.

3. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising means connected to saidbody member for imparting a swirling motion to said fluid so that itdiverges as it discharges from said body member.

4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein there are four notches formed in eachof said tabs in a manner to form a rectangular discharge pattern.

* 1 I! l l

1. A nozzle comprising a hollow body member having inlet means adaptedto receive a source of fluid and outlet means for discharging said fluidin a predetermined discharge pattern, said outlet means including atubular portion for providing a predetermined resistance to fluid flowthrough said outlet means, said tubular portion being formed by at leastone separable tab to enable the axial length of said tubular portion tobe reduced in a relatively easy and precise manner, said reduction insaid axial length causing a corresponding reduction in said resistanceand therefore in the size of said discharge pattern, the inner wall ofsaid tubular portion being of a constant diameter through the entirelength thereof so that said discharge pattern maintains a constant shapedespite said reduction in size.
 2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein aplurality of tubular tabs are provided, said tabs being separated bymeans of a circumferential score line.
 3. The nozzle of claim 1, furthercomprising means connected to said body member for imparting a swirlingmotion to said fluid so that it diverges as it discharges from said bodymember.
 4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein there are four notches formedin each of said tabs in a manner to form a rectangular dischargepattern.